Greetings
Maroon Devils,
Tornados are a common occurrence during the summertime across the USA within this time
frame of history in which we live. Some of you I’m sure have experienced a tornado and others perhaps a hurricane which
has disrupted the normal ebb and flow of your tranquil life. Yet, who promised life would always be tranquil?
Because of His never-ending love for us the good Lord gave us “free will” to manage and order our lives as we
think best. Therefore we boldly go forth, usually acting on instinct, making plans and interacting with society in ways which
fit our comfort zone and doing things that bring us the most pleasure. So it was with our recent planned 12 day vacation to
the Midwest and Canada.
Margaret and I were planning to fly to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and meet our friends from Mobile, Alabama, with whom
we were going to see all the wondrous sights of Minnesota, Iowa, S.D., N.D. and three provinces of Canada. All went as planned until we landed
in Minneapolis Monday morning, August 3rd.
Immediately upon embarking the plane Margaret’s cell phone rang. Her daughter-in-law, Lisa, was on
the phone informing us her husband, Margaret’s 38 year old son, Jeff, had suffered a stroke. Tornado or Hurricane? Take
your pick!
I will not drag this story out and
make a satire of it. Needless to say, we informed our friends we were returning home to Greenville on the next flight. Carefully planned vacation gone with the wind! However, that was OK! There were more important
things to consider. Vacations can be planned and taken anytime. This vacation was spent in the hospital visiting with Jeff
in ICU for five days.
Jeff had a blood clot lodged in his brain stem and fortunately reached the hospital before serious damage
occurred. He returned home the 10th and is taking physical therapy as an out-patient. He does
have some paralysis on his right side—leg, arm and face. He is now walking without the aid of a cane
and is putting one foot in front of the other. Yet, his right leg is still weak. His arm will take longer
to strengthen but he will regain full use of it as therapy progresses. His speech is almost at 95% efficiency.
Jeff is upbeat, optimistic and no longer the scared young man we first saw when we arrived at the hospital Tuesday
morning the 4th. Naturally his lifestyle—especially his eating and exercising habits—will change as
did my life habits changed in 84 and 90 when I suffered two mini-strokes. Margaret and I are especially
appreciative of all your prayers and concerns, cards, e-mails and phone calls from those of who were aware of Jeff’s
illness. You are a Godsend indeed!
As the infamous Paul Harvey said during his daily noon time newscast—And Now The Rest of The News—or Story.
Maroon Devils from the Class of 58 are still reconnecting. We now have five active
groups gathering in North and South Carolina and Texas. Future
plans are to instigate other gatherings of Maroon Devils across the country especially in Atlanta and perhaps various cities in Florida.
The Western North Carolina
Maroon Devils, headed up by Sally
McCanless and Allan White, have another gathering of 58 Devils planned for September 3rd when classmates Ronny
and Anne Moore Henderson are visiting Asheville while on vacation. Classmate Gary
Scott has also retired and moved to Asheville from Charlotte
and will join in the planned festivities which will be a social gathering at 6:00
at the Province 620 Restaurant at 620 Hendersonville Highway in Asheville. The social hour will be followed by dinner from the restaurant menu at 7:00. All members of the Class of 58 are invited and if you live out of town
and find yourself in Asheville on September 3rd plan on joining your classmates.
An RSVP is needed. Contact Rex @ Redhrex13@aol.com or Sally at Sallys_Alley@live.com. There is an underline between Sally and Alley in Sally’s email address. We already have reservations for
26 people as of August 19. Won’t you join us? We have a great time “catching up”.
The Upstate Maroon Devils, consisting of Devils from the Classes of 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62
are gathering this fall for an outing at the home of Class of 58 president, Sidney Mitchell in Greenville. During a phone conversation with Sidney recently he informed me he and
Vera were laying the ground work for the gathering—painting and redecorating portions of their house. (Lordy Sidney you did not have to go to so much trouble for us but we greatly appreciate
your efforts). The time and date of the gathering will be announced in September. Speaking of Sidney, he was feeling rather spunky when we talked. He told me his business—commercial contractor—was
doing well. He said had landed two nice projects in distant cities and was putting people to work. He also told me his son,
Sidney Jr. set up his own Law practice here in Greenville. Congratulations Sidney
Jr.
Bette Wilson McClain and Judy Lance Smith are busy making plans for a classmate gathering of
58 Maroon Devils who live in The Greater Charlotte Metropolitan area. Tentative plans are to gather Tuesday evening, September
15th at the Providence Café for dinner and socializing. The Charlotte contingent of classmates will be notified when final plans are concluded. In the meant time, classmates
in the area may contact Bette and Judy with any questions you may have. Bette is at bettemc@carolina.rr.com and Judy is at judy@morrisonsmith.com.
Nancy Drum Clark is
going to gather those classmates who live in the Greater Raleigh/Durham area. Now that she has closed on her house in Asheville and is settled in Cary, Nancy will notify her Maroon Devil Classmates when they will gather.
The Fab Four in Texas has been quiet lately. I’m sure they will be gathering soon for a four
hour lunch. I did receive word May K. Ricker Thompson’s husband, George, is continuing to recover from a serious stroke
he had earlier in the year. Margaret and I met George during our recent trip to Dallas
when we visited with the Fab Four. It was interesting to discover Mary Carolyn Hawkins Pfalzgraf and Mark K. Ricker Thompson lived
within 15 minutes of each other in North Dallas near Frisco and were unaware of that fact until the reunion directory was published on the Class of
58 website.
I’m talking with classmate Molly Alexander Haskell who lives in Orlando about gathering some classmates in her area. Some research on how many classmates live
in her area is my next project. Jacksonville and St
Petersburg are also future projects.
Painting and redecorating appears to be a binge in the Upstate this summer. Not only have Sidney
and Vera Mitchell been spreading new color in their home, but Ken and Vickie Cooper, Jennie Lazenby Padgett and husband Al
are repainting the interior of their houses as well. Jennie continues to improve from her episode with
a blood clot earlier in the spring. She is also appreciateive of all the classmate support she
received during her illness.
In the way of Class of 58 announcements I am going to take some time in September and make copies of the bio book we published for
the Class of 58 reunion. Bob Gamble and Judy Justice have requested copies and any additional copies will be available for
$15.00 (including postage) if others of you care to order a Bio Book. The books were originally issued “free of charge”
to all those who attended the reunion or made a donation.
Also, providing I do not violate any
copyright laws, I will copy the 58 Hillbilly Annual for those of you who wish to have a copy. I know Roslyn Cooley Lewis,
Shirley McDonald Hedrick, Brian Roberts and one more person whose name I feel I have forgotten—maybe Eugenia Burton
Mozley have requested copies. Copies of the annual will be $20. 00 each including shipping. All monetary transactions will
be processed through the Class account which has a balance of $558.99 as of 7/31. Reserve your copies of either a bio book
or an annual (providing I can legally make copies of the annual) to Redhrex13@aol.com.
Following are copies of nice e-mails from classmates received after the July
20 publishing date of Maroon and Black Threads. Anne Cole Keast who lives in Carson City, Nevada, sent the first e-mail describing
a long cruise she and her family are taking.
Rex, Loved the latest
newsletter!!! If all goes well, I hope to come east this fall. Will let you know and if it is at a time of a "gathering",
I would love to attend. When I know a date you all are getting together, I will try to plan around it. If not,
I would love to drive down and see you and meet your wife. Our trip to Norway was wonderful!! There is no way
to describe the beauty of the Norwegian coastline. Sailing across the Atlantic was so peaceful!! We are now at
the coast of California for July and August enjoying weather in the 60's while the valley is suffering in the 90’s.
We will be home around Sept. 3rd. Have a great summer!
Love, Anne Cole
Keast
Also received
on the 22nd is an e-mail from a new found friend in the Class of 57, Charlie Waddell, brother to Bill Waddell in
the Class of 59.
HI
REX, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HI AND THANKS FOR THE NEWS LETTER. IT'S TOTALLY AWESOME TO GET THIS INFORMATION.
TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ALL I HAVE BEEN MISSING OVER THE YEARS IS HARD FOR ME TO COMPREHEND. IT IS SO NICE TO KNOW WHAT
IT GOING ON IN LOTS OF PEOPLE’’S LIFE, HAPPY, SAD, HEALTHY, SICK, RICH, POOR, ETC., IT'S LIFE AND WE ARE ALL A
PART OF IT AND A LITTLE SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY IS SO VERY IMPORTANT. THIS, YOU HAVE LEARNED SO WELL AND PROBABLY A VERY
LONG TIME AGO. YOU HAVE SO MUCH COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE AND THE LIFE DEALT TO THEM. I WISH I HAD KNOWN YOU AS OTHERS
HAVE. YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MY RESPECT AND GRATITUDE. I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU HAPPY AND FIT. I AM DOING VERY WELL ON
THIS END AND ENJOYING LIFE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. DALE ROSSER'S PASSING (Class of 57) WAS A SHOCK TO ME. HE AND I GO WAY BACK TO H.F. AND FIRST JOBS. I
JUST WISH THAT I COULD FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF HIS DEATH. IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. WELL, IT'S SHORT AND I'M BAILING. THANKS AGAIN REX,
.BEST REGARDS, CHARLIE
Shirley McDonald Hedrick writes:
Hi Rex,
I haven't checked in with you in a while so I thought I would take a few minutes and do it now.Thank you so much for
continuing to keep us all up to date with the newsletter. I love hearing about what everyone is doing. What a great picture
of Ronnie and Anne. It is amazing. I would have known them in an instant anywhere, they have changed so little since high
school. I'm sure they are having a wonderful time. I wish I could be in Asheville to see them. I barely got to speak to them at the reunion. My
fall plans include a week at Pawley's Island visiting daughter Debbie
who lives there. That is 9/2 til 9/9. Then in October I am going to Gulf Shores, Ala. with daughter Kathy and husband
Phillip to enjoy the Shrimp Festival and of course the beach. I also plan to spend at least one weekend in Asheville and hope to connect with some of our friends. All this after a June and July of
trap shoots . I guess I can't tease you about traveling so much, can I? One of the best parts of my travels was dinner with you, Margaret, Vera and Sidney. I wish I lived closer. It would
be fun to get together often. Thanks again for all your hard work. You are terrific. Love to Margaret.
Shirley PS Shirley has a new e-mail address. It is shirlyanna@comcast.net.
Jennie Lazenby Padgett writes on 7/25, Hi
Rex: I'm trying to catch up with correspondence this morning (Monday). Sorry Al and I are not able
to connect up with you this week for lunch or dinner before you leave for vacation. I have mailed
out and I am up to date with the 4 newsletters I am responsible for June and July. We hope
you have a grand vacation to the northwest. We will be praying for you to have a safe trip there and back and everywhere
in between. Hope to see you upon your return, would love to hear about all the swell places you have been
and your other experiences. 7/27/09 I am feeling much
better each week and getting around good. Every improvement I experience is gladly and gratefully appreciated. We've had our house painted this summer (all the trim work, that is) and are presently
having our kitchen painted. Al's 50th class reunion is coming up this Labor Day weekend in Black Mtn NC, so we are looking
forward to that (mostly). Hope to hear from you soon. Best regards,
Jennie
Classmate Bob Gamble of Monroe, NC joined our ranks as a correspondent. Bob wrote on 7/26…
As always a wonderful job with the
Threads and keeping us up to date. Are we now bragging about our ancestors ?? Don’t forget the Mayflower
as well as 2 signers of the Magna Carta. oops.. the founder of Waynesville who named it for Mad Anthony Wayne a Revolutionary
General. Bob G. P.S. Almost forgot that
name was Love. He and Jackson were great friends til they decided to have a horse race and Love got Jackson's jockey drunk the night before so he lost the race. Challenged him to a duel and
cooler heads prevailed so it didn't happen. Brighten your day a little ?
Bob and I share genealogy stories and
he was giving me his nickle’s worth about his infamous ancestors who signed the Magna Carter and about the Love family
in Waynesville from whom he descends.
Maroon
Devil Anne Beckham Ewald just returned from a nice vacation and here are tales of her adventures...
Rex
Thank you for reminding me of the upcoming
Class of 58 September 3rd event. The notice I printed became buried in a pile of things we need to take care of.
Unfortunately, we must regret. It seems cousins of Les's will be in town that week and commitments are heavy. We just returned from an eight day trip to Harrisburg/Hershey, PA. We had sightseeing tours the first couple
of days. Visited Gettysburg, Eisenhower Farm, and Boyd's Bear Country. Daughter has begun
collecting bears along with the dolls. We had lunch that day at the famous Dobbin's House. Another day, we
visited the Amish farms in Lancaster County, had a typical Amish meal served
by the Amish and learned much about their culture. And, lastly we visited Hershey Park and hit the highlights, trolley
ride of the town, 3-D movie that was spectacular, another short ride of how chocolate is made and packaged, a wonderful lunch
on the verandah of the magnificent Hershey Inn, and last, purchased some chocolates at the Hershey Park Chocolate Store.
Doll convention began after the sightseeing fun and we
rushed to doll seminars, exhibits, daily special offers, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, raffle fun, etc. Upon arriving
home, we were absolutely exhausted, but smiling. And, of course, we brought home too many dolls........
I do hope all is well with you and Margaret and
that you are thoroughly enjoying our beautiful summertime weather. Mostly, we have had typical mountain temperatures.
That is until we left home and our house/pet sitter informed us our temps here at home had been in the 90's. Take
care and I look forward to reading all about the September 3rd gathering. Will be lots of fun, I know, and I'm sorry
to miss it. Anne
Sally McCanless’ encounter with
a bear—or was it really a bear―follows.
Rex, Now, for MY REAL TRUTHFUL water,
bathroom, and bear, camping story. With five family members and two friends, we camped from Cataloochee to Elkmont near Gatlinburg.
Camping is a pleasure, but it has its' pains, too. One is...sometimes bathroom facilities are just too far away for
an older person having to get up in the middle of the night, twice. So, out into the open air I had to trudge into the dark
woods in the middle of the night, my flashlight searching for unwelcome critters which might arrive near my sandaled feet,
and other bare parts.
Because we were camping in a large population of bears, I was always afraid one would gooch
me from behind. But, I, from childhood on, wanted to see one which isn't caged! No such luck. Seems when a bear wandered
the main Elkmont camp late one evening, guess what facility I was partaking of...then, when a Mother and cub came close enough
to our campsite for our friend to take a close photo of them, guess in what building I was sitting. When we drove to see the
Elk in Cataloochee for the second time in two years we all went to wade in a creek. Down the road, a crowd gathered to watch
the arrival of a Mother Bear and FOUR cubs. I couldn't win. According to the park rangers, such an event was a rare event.
Then, there was bath time. To rephrase the old saying, "Fish and campers stink after
three days"...I decided to take my own invention, created in earlier years when the hot water tank gave up and I had
to heat water, bath-in-a-bucket. Now, being somewhat near the main camp road, I decided to wear my night shirt for my bath.
I quickly soaped up underneath, and with a huge container of almost lukewarm water heated from the cooking grill, I drenched
myself, shirt and all. It makes a long, hot, waiting tub bath, A REAL NICE treat when arriving home. Seems camping was not
so much of a problem in my girlhood.
First of all, without bathroom facilities,
my smaller stature was much closer to the ground. Then, my grandfather, at our place at Lake Lure, quickly got tired of the
griping I suppose, and he and my grandmother (who were my age now) built an outhouse near the cabin, a place where spider
webs and the Sears catalogue were both fearful and entertaining.
Seriously, I feel blessed to have been invited on the camping trip. We had a roaring fire
nightly built by my son-in-law, David. The cool evening air, great cooking by my daughter, Madalyn, a four year old grandson's
fun tossing rocks into the river, and 16 year-old granddaughter, Brianna and friend Catherine's fun diving off rocks into
the swimming areas, our trip into Gatlinburg, a great music store which had wonderful, unusual stringed instruments, and a
good Barbeque lunch, made the trip with family, oh, so much more worthwhile. Sally
PS One night while camping, when the rain was heavily pouring and upon
awaking for my nightly bathroom adventure, I found my nightclothes most soaked. Realizing I had NOT had an "accident",
I changed clothes while seated on the edge of the mattress. I felt wet, again. My fussing awoke the entire crew. Seems the
outside, camper insulation had slipped, and with my window left open for air, and minus insulation, the heavy rain soaked
the side AND the end of my mattress, and had traveled up to also soak, my "end". I guess the lesson to my
story is, "Water, water, everywhere. But, when one needs a drink or bathroom, one must take a trip down to the facilities,
camp spigot, or JUST STAY HOME where there's a dry mattress, a bathroom, and lots 'o' bears on the Nature channel on cable."
Editor’s note: I
don’t think Sally ever saw the bears.
Class of 59 Fiftieth Reunion News announced.
The Class of 59 has mailed their 50th Class of 59 Reunion
packet after a much long and unanticipated wait. The Class of 59 is gathering for their 50th Reunion celebration on
Friday and Saturday, September 18th and 19th. (Sound familiar anyone?) They
will gather in a Picnic Shelter on the banks of the French
Broad River near Skyland for an Old Fashioned
Hot Dog and Hamburger cook out—plus marshmallow roasting and a water melon cutting. The cost is $20.00 per person. An
old Celtic song says…
“This night by the fire side old songs will be sung
and tonight I’ll be hearing my own native tongue.”
Saturday evening the Planning Committee has reserved Pack Place on the Square
for a more lavish event. The description of the event reads;
Elegant, exquisite, extraordinary culinary morsels to tickle your palateand “Memories Are Made of this… swingin’ and swayin’—reminiscent
of the Sky Club”.
One must interpret the description as a promising
good dinner and a dance following dinner. The cost is $85.00 per person. RSVP no later than August
22nd or receive a phone call from Pippa. Phone 828-691-0257 for questions. Planning committee member Charlotte Nash Choitt tells me they are expecting a great turn
out for their 50th reunion and Threads will publish a full report of the reunion in the September 20 issue.
A Class directory and obituaries of deceased classmates is available for $20.00 and a class
calendar with pictures of nostalgic 50s Asheville is available for $!5.00.
Tid bits of classmates news in a nutshell.
•Jenice
Harriss Pegg of Marshall, NC celebrating 50th Wedding anniversary in August.
•B.L.
Coleman and wife, Billie, of Mauldin, SC heading for the mountains near Marion, NC for a much
deserved get-away in their mobile home. Billie is recuperating from
a short illness.
•Please remember in your prayers Classmates
Jo Ann Chandley Elliott’s mother who is gravely ill.
•Jo Anne Dalton Vaughn who is having knee surgery on September
15 in Greenville, SC.
•George
Couch is with extended family fishing off the coast near Savannah.
In closing, I want to express my most heart felt thanks and gratitude to all of you for your words of appreciation
for the newsletter and for those of you who write inspiring and encouraging words. Perhaps you will
not see or read all of your comments in print because I choose not to be self-serving and will always strive to be humble.
I am reminded of the prophet Micah in The Old Testament who said to the Jewish people 2700 years
ago, Act Justly, be merciful and walk humbly with God. I only wish I could forever be so strong.
Yet,
a personal goal I set for our 50th Class reunion in 2008, not only for myself but for the Steering Committee at
large, was to be all-inclusive to every classmate in the LEHS Class of 1958, regardless of their popularity
in high school. We are all children of the universe and have a right to be here.
There will always be those who are greater and lesser than ourselves, but let’s not compare ourselves with others lest
we become vain.
Admittedly, I do receive
a great deal of personal satisfaction and achievement for providing a connecting link to many very special people who share
a common bond to another time and place. If I am fortunate to bring a moment of happy nostalgia or inspiration
to your life, than I am blessed. Again thanks for your many responses. They keep me motivated. Keep them coming.
In
the mean time please remember the infinite words of the late president, Ronald Regan, "The most terrifying words in the English language
are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Peace and Shalom,
Rex
